Radio terminal

ABSTRACT

A radio terminal according to an embodiment is used in a mobile telecommunication system which provides a plurality of communication services. The radio terminal includes a controller which uses any of a plurality of resource pools provided for each communication service on the basis of resource map information. The plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in one system bandwidth. The resource map information indicates the layout pattern of the plurality of resource pools.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of internationalapplication PCT/JP2017/005320, filed Feb. 14, 2017, which claims thebenefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-031996 filed Feb. 23,2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a radio terminal which is used in amobile telecommunication system.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, technologies for the 5th generation (5G) mobiletelecommunication system have been studied. As one of such technologies,there is proposed a technology in which time/frequency resources in oneradio frame and in one system bandwidth are allocated to a plurality ofresource pools, and a plurality of communication services can beprovided using the plurality of resource pools. The plurality ofcommunication services includes new services for 5G systems. With theintroduction of such a radio frame structure, various services can beprovided using one radio frame format.

SUMMARY

A radio terminal according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The radio terminal includes a controller configured to use anyof a plurality of resource pools provided for each communication serviceon the basis of resource map information. The plurality of resourcepools is provided in one radio frame and in one system bandwidth. Theresource map information indicates a layout pattern of the plurality ofresource pools.

A network apparatus according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The network apparatus includes a controller which manages aplurality of resource pools provided for each communication service. Theplurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in onesystem bandwidth. The controller is configured to transmit resource mapinformation indicating a layout pattern of the plurality of resourcepools to a radio terminal.

A radio terminal according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The radio terminal includes a controller configured todetermine whether the radio terminal satisfies a use condition of apredetermined resource pool among a plurality of resource pools providedfor each communication service. The plurality of resource pools isprovided in one radio frame and in one system bandwidth. The usecondition is a condition which the radio terminal should satisfy inorder to use the predetermined resource pool.

A network apparatus according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The network apparatus includes a controller which manages aplurality of resource pools provided for each communication service anda use condition of each of the plurality of resource pools. Theplurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in onesystem bandwidth. The use condition is a condition to be satisfied by aradio terminal to use a corresponding resource pool.

A radio terminal according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The radio terminal includes a controller configured to use anyof a plurality of resource pools provided for each communicationservice. The plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frameand in one system bandwidth. The controller is configured to use aprimary resource pool first among the plurality of resource pools.

A network apparatus according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The network apparatus includes a controller which manages aplurality of resource pools provided for each communication service. Theplurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in onesystem bandwidth. The plurality of resource pools includes a primaryresource pool which is first used by the radio terminal among theplurality of resource pools.

A radio terminal according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The radio terminal includes a controller which uses any of aplurality of resource pools provided for each communication service. Theplurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in onesystem bandwidth. Each of the plurality of resource pools includes acell identifier. The controller is configured to handle each of theplurality of resource pools as one cell.

A network apparatus according to an embodiment is used in a mobiletelecommunication system providing a plurality of communicationservices. The network apparatus includes a controller which manages aplurality of resource pools provided for each communication service. Theplurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in onesystem bandwidth. Each of the plurality of resource pools includes acell identifier. The controller is configured to handle each of theplurality of resource pools as one cell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobiletelecommunication system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a protocol stack of a radio interfacein the mobile telecommunication system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a radio frame whichis used in the mobile telecommunication system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a UE (radioterminal).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an eNB (basestation).

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a radio frame structureaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an OFDM signal waveform.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a first exemplary operation of a secondembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second exemplary operation of thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary operation of a thirdembodiment.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating an operation according to afourth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(Configuration of Mobile Telecommunication System)

In the following, a configuration of a mobile telecommunication systemaccording to an embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagramillustrating a configuration of the mobile telecommunication systemaccording to the embodiment. The mobile telecommunication systemaccording to the embodiment is a mobile telecommunication system basedon the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project).LTE (Long TermEvolution).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile telecommunication system accordingto the embodiment includes a UE (User Equipment) 100, an E-UTRAN(Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) 10, and an EPC (EvolvedPacket Core) 20. The E-UTRAN 10 and the EPC 20 form a network of the LTEsystem.

The UE 100 corresponds to a radio terminal. The UE 100 is a mobileterminal, and performs a radio communication with a cell (serving cell).The configuration of the UE 100 will be described below.

The E-UTRAN 10 corresponds to a radio access network. The E-UTRAN 10includes an eNB 200 (evolved Node-B). The eNB 200 corresponds to a basestation. The eNBs 200 are connected to each other through an X2interface. The configuration of the eNB 200 will be described below.

The eNB 200 manages one or a plurality of cells, and performs a radiocommunication with the UE 100 which has established the connection witha subject cell. The eNB 200 has a radio resource management (RRM)function, a routing function of user data (hereinafter, simply referredto as “data”), and a measurement control function for mobilitycontrol/scheduling. “Cell” is used as a terminology indicating a minimumunit of radio communication area, and also used as a terminologyindicating a function of the radio communication with the UE 100.

The EPC 20 corresponds to a core network. The EPC 20 includes an MME(Mobility Management Entity)/S-GW (Serving-Gateway) 300. The MMEperforms various types of mobility controls on the UE 100. The S-GWperforms data transmission control. The MME/S-GW 300 is connected to theeNB 200 through an S1 interface. The E-UTRAN 10 and the EPC 20 form anetwork.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a protocol stack of a radio interfacein the mobile telecommunication system according to the embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 2, the radio interface protocol is classified intothe first to third layers of an OSI reference model. The first layer isa physical (PHY) layer. The second layer includes a MAC (Medium AccessControl) layer, an RLC (Radio Link Control) layer, and a PDCP (PacketData Convergence Protocol) layer. The third layer includes an RRC (RadioResource Control).

The physical layer, the MAC layer, the RLC layer, the PDCP layer, andthe RRC layer form an AS (Access Stratum) entity 100 a. An upper layerentity 100 b is located at a layer upper than the AS entity 100 a. Theupper layer entity 100 b includes a NAS (Non-Access Stratum) layer. Theupper layer entity 100 b may further include an application layer.

The physical layer performs encoding/decoding, modulation/demodulation,antenna mapping/demapping, and resource mapping/demapping. Data andcontrol signals are transferred between the physical layer of the UE 100and the physical layer of the eNB 200 through a physical channel.

The MAC layer performs a data priority control, a retransmission by ahybrid ARQ (HARQ), and a random access procedure. Data and controlsignals are transferred between the MAC layer of the UE 100 and the MAClayer of the eNB 200 through a transport channel. The MAC layer of theeNB 200 includes a scheduler which determines a transport format ofuplink and downlink (transport block size, modulation and coding scheme(MCS)) and a subject resource block for the UE 100.

The RLC layer transfers data to the RLC layer on a reception side usingthe functions of the MAC layer and the physical layer. Data and controlsignals are transferred between the RLC layer of the UE 100 and the RLClayer of the eNB 200 through a logical channel.

The PDCP layer performs header compression/extension andencryption/decryption.

The RRC layer is only defined by a control plane to handle the controlsignals. Signals (RRC signals) for various types of settings aretransferred between the RRC layer of the UE 100 and the RRC layer of theeNB 200. The RRC layer controls the logical channel, the transportchannel, and the physical channel according to establishment,reestablishment, and release of a radio bearer. In a case where the RRClayer of the UE 100 and the RRC layer of the eNB 200 are connected (RRCconnection), the UE 100 is in an RRC connected mode and, if not, the UE100 is in an RRC idle mode.

The NAS layer located upper than the RRC layer performs a sessionmanagement and a mobility management.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a radio frame whichis used in the mobile telecommunication system according to theembodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the radio frame is configured by tensub-frames which are aligned in a time direction. Each sub-frame isconfigured by two slots which are aligned in the time direction. Thelength of each sub-frame is 1 ms, and the length of each slot is 0.5 ms.Each sub-frame includes a plurality of resource blocks (RB) in afrequency direction, and includes a plurality of symbols in the timedirection. Each resource block includes a plurality of subcarriers inthe frequency direction. One symbols and one subcarrier form oneresource element (RE). In addition, a frequency resource amongtime/frequency resources allocated to the UE 100 can be specified by aresource block, and a time resource can be specified by a sub-frame (orslot).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the UE 100 (radioterminal). As illustrated in FIG. 4, the UE 100 includes a receiver 110,a transmitter 120, and a controller 130.

The receiver 110 performs various types of reception under the controlof the controller 130. The receiver 110 includes an antenna and areceiving module. The receiving module converts a radio signal receivedby the antenna into a base band signal (reception signal), and outputsthe base band signal to the controller 130.

The transmitter 120 performs various types of transmission under thecontrol of the controller 130. The transmitter 120 includes an antennaand a transmitting module. The transmitting module converts a base bandsignal (transmission signal) output by the controller 130 into a radiosignal, and outputs the radio signal from the antenna.

The controller 130 performs various types of controls in the UE 100. Thecontroller 130 includes a processor and a memory. The memory storesprograms executed by the processor and information used in processes ofthe processor. The processor includes a base band processor whichperforms modulation/demodulation and encoding/decoding of the base bandsignal, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which executes a programstored in the memory to perform various types of processes. Theprocessor may include a codec which performs encoding/decoding of anaudio/video signal. The processor performs various types of processesdescribed above and various types of processes described below.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the eNB 200 (basestation). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the eNB 200 includes a transmitter210, a receiver 220, a controller 230, and a backhaul communicationmodule 240.

The transmitter 210 performs various types of transmission under thecontrol of the controller 230. The transmitter 210 includes an antennaand a transmitting module. The transmitting module converts a base bandsignal (transmission signal) output by the controller 230 into a radiosignal, and transmits the radio signal from the antenna.

The receiver 220 performs various types of reception under the controlof the controller 230. The receiver 220 includes an antenna and areceiving module. The receiving module converts a radio signal receivedby the antenna into a base band signal (reception signal), and outputsthe base band signal to the controller 230.

The controller 230 performs various types of controls in the eNB 200.The controller 230 includes a processor and a memory. The memory storesprograms executed by the processor and information used in processes ofthe processor. The processor includes a base band processor whichperforms modulation/demodulation and encoding/decoding of the base bandsignal, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) which executes a programstored in the memory to perform various types of processes. Theprocessor performs various types of processes described above andvarious types of processes described below.

The backhaul communication module 240 is connected to the adjacent eNB200 through the X2 interface, and connected to the MME/S-GW 300 throughthe S1 interface. The backhaul communication module 240 is used incommunication performed on the X2 interface and in communicationperformed on the S1 interface.

(Radio Frame Structure)

In the following, a radio frame structure according to the embodimentwill be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of theradio frame structure according to the embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a plurality of resource pools is provided inone radio frame and in one system bandwidth. Each resource pool includesa plurality of time/frequency resources. For example, each resource poolis configured by a plurality of subcarriers and a plurality of OFDMsymbols.

Further, the plurality of resource pools may be set in “period” or “timeunit” in the time direction which are not limited to the radio frameunit. In addition, a duration of a sub-frame included in one radio framemay be fixed or varied. Further, the number of sub-frames included inone radio frame may be fixed or varied. In a case where the duration ofa sub-frame and the number thereof is variable, these parameters arenotified to the UE 100 by “specific resource pool” and/or “primaryresource (primary resource pool)” described below.

The plurality of resource pools is provided according to a communicationservice. The communication service (hereinafter, simply referred to as“service”) includes a communication service which is currently providedby the mobile telecommunication system and a communication service whichis scheduled to be provided by the mobile telecommunication system.

For example, the communication service includes existing services suchas a WAN (Wide Area Network) communication service, a D2D(Device-to-Device) proximity service, a multicast service, a machinetype communication (MTC) service, and an enhanced mobile broadband(eMBB) service. A resource pool which is currently not provided by themobile telecommunication system and corresponds to a scheduledcommunication service may be handled as a currently-not-used resource(blank resource). The blank resource may be called a blank sub-frame, ormay be called a blank subcarrier.

In addition, signal parameters applied to the respective resource poolsmay differ. For example, a subcarrier spacing (SS) and a TTI(Transmission Time Interval) in signal transmission based on the OFDMmay be scalable (variable).

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an OFDM signal waveform. As illustratedin FIG. 7, the OFDM transmission is a type of multi-carrier modulationscheme in which data is distributed to a plurality of orthogonalsubcarriers and transmitted in parallel in the frequency direction. Thesubcarrier spacing indicates an interval between two adjacentsubcarriers. When the subcarrier spacing is widened, the length of theOFDM symbol becomes short. In other words, the TTI can be shortened.

In this way, if the radio frame structure is introduced to provide aplurality of communication services using the plurality of resourcepools, it is possible to provide various services in one radio frameformat.

First Embodiment

In the following, a first embodiment will be described. The followingembodiments are implemented on an assumption of the mobiletelecommunication system to which the radio frame structure asillustrated in FIG. 6 is introduced.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an operation according to the firstembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8, a network apparatus (the eNB 200)which manages the plurality of resource pools provided for eachcommunication service transmits resource map information to the UE 100in Step S101. The resource map information indicates a layout pattern ofthe plurality of resource pools. The UE 100 receives the resource mapinformation. The UE 100 uses any one of the plurality of resource poolson the basis of the resource map information.

In the following embodiments, the description will be given about anexample that the network apparatus is the eNB 200 in a radio accessnetwork (the E-UTRAN 10). However, the network apparatus may be anetwork entity in the core network (the EPC 20).

The eNB 200 may transmit the resource map information by broadcastsignaling. Alternatively, the eNB 200 may transmit the resource mapinformation by UE dedicated signaling. In a case where the UE dedicatedsignaling is used, the eNB 200 may transmit the resource map informationto a specific UE 100 in response to a request from the specific UE 100.

In the first embodiment, the eNB 200 transmits the resource mapinformation using the specific resource pool. The specific resource poolis a resource pool to which a base TTI is applied. The base TTI is a TTIof the existing LTE system. The base TTI may be a TTI which is definedas a default value (or an initial value). The resource pools other thanthe specific resource pool may be applied with a TTI shorter than thebase TTI (that is, a TTI for 5G system). The specific resource pool maybe a common control resource or a primary resource which is described ina third embodiment.

Further, the specific resource pool may have at least one of thefollowing characteristics.

-   -   The specific resource pool is disposed in a specific        time/frequency resource in the above-described one radio frame        (or one period).    -   In order to adaptively control the time/frequency resource of        the specific resource pool, control information indicating a        resource in the specific resource pool is disposed in a specific        time/frequency resource in one radio frame (or one period).    -   At least one synchronization signal is included in one specific        resource pool.

In addition, the resource map information may indicate a resource poollayout pattern in one radio resource, or may indicate a resource poollayout pattern over a plurality of radio resources.

The resource map information may also include a plurality of entriescorresponding to the plurality of resource pools. Each entry may includeinformation indicating an identifier of the resource pool, an identifierof a service provided by the subject resource pool, and a layout of thesubject resource pool (that is, time position and frequency position).The identifier of the resource pool may be a cell identifier to bedescribed in a fourth embodiment. The information indicating the layoutof the resource pool may include sub-frame information and resourceblock information, or may be a pattern identifier to identify any of theplurality of pre-defined layout patterns. In addition, each entry mayinclude information indicating a signal parameter (for example, thesubcarrier spacing, the TTI, etc.) which is applied to the subjectresource pool.

The UE 100 receives the resource map information. The UE 100 ascertainsthe layout (that is, a time range and a frequency range) of eachresource pool on the basis of the resource map information. Then, the UE100 starts to use the resource pool corresponding to a desired service.The UE 100 may use only one resource pool, and transmit/receive datausing one resource pool. Alternatively, the UE 100 may use the pluralityof resource pools at the same time, and transmit/receive data using theplurality of resource pools. For example, the UE 100 maytransmit/receive the data of a first bearer of the subject UE 100 usingResource Pool #1, and transmit/receive the data of a second bearer ofthe subject UE 100 using Resource Pool #2.

The UE 100 may issue a notification to the eNB 200 before starting touse a desired resource pool. The eNB 200 may allocate the time/frequencyresource in a desired resource pool to the UE 100 according to thenotification from the UE 100. The eNB 200 may transmit allocationinformation to the UE 100 using a control resource made of a specifictime/frequency resource in a desired resource pool.

The first embodiment may be summarized as follows.

The network apparatus (the eNB 200) according to the first embodiment isused in the mobile telecommunication system which provides the pluralityof communication services. The network apparatus includes the controller230 which manages the plurality of resource pools provided for eachcommunication service. The plurality of resource pools is provided inone radio frame and in one system bandwidth. The controller transmitsthe resource map information indicating the layout pattern of theplurality of resource pools to a radio terminal. The controller maytransmit the resource map information using a specific resource pool. Inthe specific resource pool, the base TTI (Transmission Time Interval) isapplied.

The radio terminal (the UE 100) according to the first embodiment isused in the mobile telecommunication system which provides the pluralityof communication services. The radio terminal includes the controller130 which uses any of the plurality of resource pools provided for eachcommunication service on the basis of the resource map information. Theplurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frame and in onesystem bandwidth. The resource map information indicates the layoutpattern of the plurality of resource pools.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the UE 100 can ascertainthe layout of each resource pool to appropriately use a desired resourcepool.

First Modification of First Embodiment

In the first embodiment, the description has been given about an examplein which the eNB 200 allocates the resources in each resource pool.However, the resource allocation in at least one resource pool may beperformed by the UE 100. For example, the resource allocation in theresource pool for the D2D proximity service may be performed by the UE100.

In this case, each entry of the resource map information may includeinformation indicating whether the resource allocation to thecorresponding resource pool is performed by the eNB 200 or the UE 100.

Second Modification of First Embodiment

The UE 100 may store the pre-defined resource map information. In thiscase, the network (the eNB 200 or another network entity) may notprovide the resource map information to the UE 100. Alternatively, in acase where the resource pool layout pattern is updated, the network mayprovide the resource map information to the UE 100. In addition, thenetwork may update the resource pool layout pattern on the basis of ause situation of each resource pool.

Second Embodiment

In the following, a second embodiment will be described mainly focusingon differences from the first embodiment.

The eNB 200 according to the second embodiment manages the plurality ofresource pools provided for each communication service and a usecondition of each of the plurality of resource pools. The use conditionis a condition which the UE 100 satisfies in order to use thecorresponding resource pool. The use condition may be called “accesscondition”.

In a first exemplary operation of the second embodiment, the UE 100determines whether the use condition is satisfied. With this regard, theeNB 200 determines whether the use condition is satisfied in a secondexemplary operation of the second embodiment.

(1) First Exemplary Operation

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the first exemplary operation of thesecond embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, in Step S201, the eNB 200 transmitsinformation indicating the use condition of the resource pool(hereinafter, referred to as “use condition information”) to the UE 100.The use condition information may be included in the resource mapinformation according to the first embodiment. The eNB 200 transmits theuse condition information by the broadcast signaling or the UE dedicatedsignaling. In a case where the UE dedicated signaling is used, the eNB200 may transmit the resource map information to the UE 100 in responseto a request from the UE 100.

The use condition information may include the use condition of each ofthe plurality of resource pools. For example, the use conditioninformation includes a plurality of entries corresponding to theplurality of resource pools. Each entry may include the identifier ofthe resource pool, and the use condition of the subject resource pool.

Alternatively, the use condition information may include the usecondition of only one resource pool. For example, in a case where the UE100 requests a transmission of the use condition of one resource pool,the eNB 200 notifies the UE 100 of the use condition of the subject oneresource pool by the UE dedicated signaling.

The use condition includes at least one of a threshold (radio parameterthreshold) which is compared to a radio parameter measured by the UE100, a threshold (random number threshold) which is compared to a randomnumber generated by the UE 100, a class (access class) or a category ofthe UE 100, a range of an identifier of the UE 100, a type of anapplication which is performed by the UE 100, and a type of a protocolwhich is performed by the UE 100.

Herein, the radio parameter is, for example, at least one of RSRP(Reference Signal Received Power), RSRQ (Reference Signal ReceivedQuality), SINR (Signal-to-Interference plus Noise power Ratio), and RSSI(Received Signal Strength Indicator). In addition, the identifier of theUE 100 may be IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) forexample. The type of an application which is performed by the UE 100 is,for example, delay allowance data communication, high-speed datacommunication, VoLTE (Voice over LTE), emergency call, public safety,D2D, V2X, D2D relay, and signaling (control signal). The type of aprotocol which is performed by the UE 100 is SIP (Session InitiationProtocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol). The AS entity 100 a of theUE 100 ascertains the type of an application and the type of a protocolon the basis of a content instructed from the upper layer entity 100 b.

In Step S202, the UE 100 determines whether the UE 100 satisfies the usecondition of a predetermined resource pool on the basis of the usecondition information received from the eNB 200. The predeterminedresource pool may be all of the plurality of resource pools, or may beonly resource pools which are desired to be used by the UE 100 among theplurality of resource pools.

It is assumed that the radio parameter threshold is designated as theuse condition of the predetermined resource pool. In this case, the UE100 measures the radio parameter in the predetermined resource pool, anddetermines whether the measured radio parameter is better than the radioparameter threshold. In a case where the measured radio parameter isbetter, the UE 100 determines that the use condition of thepredetermined resource pool is satisfied.

Herein, the random number threshold is assumed to be designated as theuse condition of the predetermined resource pool. In this case, the UE100 generates a random number, and compares the random number with therandom number threshold. For example, in a case where the generatedrandom number is equal to or more than the random number threshold, theUE 100 determines that the use condition of the predetermined resourcepool is satisfied.

In addition, the access class or the category of the UE 100 is assumedto be designated as the use condition of the predetermined resourcepool. In this case, the UE 100 reads out its own access class orcategory, and compares the access class or category with the designatedaccess class or category. In a case where the values are matched, the UE100 determines that the use condition of the predetermined resource poolis satisfied.

In addition, the range of the identifier of the UE 100 is assumed to bedesignated as the use condition of the predetermined resource pool. Inthis case, the UE 100 reads out its own identifier, and compares the ownidentifier with the range of the designated identifier. In a case wherethe own identifier falls within the range of the designated identifier,the UE 100 determines that the use condition of the predeterminedresource pool is satisfied.

In addition, the type of an application or protocol which is performedby the UE 100 is assumed to be designated as the use condition of thepredetermined resource pool. In this case, the UE 100 ascertains thetype of an application or protocol which is performed by itself, andcompares the ascertained type of the application or protocol with thedesignated type of the application or protocol. In a case where thevalues are matched, the UE 100 determines that the use condition of thepredetermined resource pool is satisfied.

Further, in a case where a combination of plural use conditions isdesignated, the UE 100 may determine whether the designated combinationis satisfied.

Here, the description will proceed on an assumption that the UE 100determines that the use condition of the predetermined resource pool issatisfied.

In Step S203, the UE 100 transmits information to the eNB 200 whichindicates a determination result of whether the use condition issatisfied. Specifically, the UE 100 transmits a notification to the eNB200 which indicates that the use condition is satisfied. Thenotification may include the identifier of the resource pool and a value(index) indicating that the use condition of the subject resource poolis satisfied. Alternatively, the subject information may a connectionrequest to the resource pool which satisfies the use condition.

In Step S204, the eNB 200 transmits configuration information and/orresource allocation information of the resource pool which satisfies theuse condition to the UE 100. The UE 100 starts to use the subjectresource pool on the basis of the configuration information and/or theresource allocation information.

(2) Second Exemplary Operation

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the second exemplary operation of thesecond embodiment. In FIG. 10, the signaling depicted with a broken lineillustrates an optional signaling.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, in Step S251, the UE 100 transmits, to theeNB 200, a report containing at least one of the radio parametermeasured by the UE 100, the random number generated by the UE 100, theaccess class or category of the UE 100, the identifier of the UE 100,the type of an application performed by the UE 100, and the type of aprotocol performed by the UE 100. The subject report may be a report foreach bearer, or may be a report for each UE.

In Step S252, the eNB 200 determines whether the UE 100 satisfies theuse condition of the predetermined resource pool on the basis of thereport received from the UE 100. The determination method is similar tothe first exemplary operation except that the determination is made bythe eNB 200. However, the eNB 200 may make a determination on the basisof information other than the report of the UE 100. For example, the eNB200 may manage a time zone as a use condition of the resource pool. In acase where the current time zone is available to the subject resourcepool, the eNB 200 may determine that the use condition of the subjectresource pool is satisfied. Alternatively, the eNB 200 may manage a loadthreshold as a use condition of the resource pool. In a case where thecurrent load (resource use rate etc.) of the subject resource pool isless than the load threshold, the eNB 200 may determine that the usecondition of the subject resource pool is satisfied. Further, the eNB200 may determine whether a combination of plural use conditions issatisfied. Here, the description will proceed on an assumption that theeNB 200 determines that the use condition of the predetermined resourcepool is satisfied.

In Step S253, the eNB 200 transmits information to the UE 100 whichindicates a determination result of whether the use condition issatisfied. Specifically, the eNB 200 transmits a notification to the UE100 which indicates that the use condition is satisfied using the UEdedicated signaling (or the broadcast signaling). The notification mayinclude the identifier of the resource pool and a value (index)indicating that the use condition of the subject resource pool issatisfied.

In Step S254, the UE 100 transmits request information to the eNB 200 torequest the use of the resource pool which satisfies the use condition.The notification may include the identifier of the resource pool and avalue (index) indicating that the use of the subject resource pool isrequested.

In Step S255, the eNB 200 transmits, to the UE 100, the configurationinformation and/or the resource allocation information of the resourcepool (or the resource pool requested from the UE 100) which satisfiesthe use condition. The UE 100 starts to use the subject resource pool onthe basis of the configuration information and/or the resourceallocation information.

Further, Steps S253 and S254 may be omitted. In this case, the settingin Step S255 can implicitly be a determination result indicating thatthe use condition is satisfied.

(3) Summary of Second Embodiment

The second embodiment may be summarized as follows.

The network apparatus (the eNB 200) according to the second embodimentis used in the mobile telecommunication system which provides theplurality of communication services. The network apparatus includes thecontroller 230 which manages a plurality of resource pools provided foreach communication service and the use condition of each of plurality ofresource pools. The plurality of resource pools is provided in one radioframe and in one system bandwidth. The use condition is a condition thatthe radio terminal should satisfy in order to use the correspondingresource pool.

In the first exemplary operation of the second embodiment, thecontroller transmits the information indicating the use condition to theradio terminal, and receives the information indicating thedetermination result of whether the use condition is satisfied from theradio terminal.

In the second exemplary operation of the second embodiment, thecontroller determines whether the radio terminal satisfies the usecondition, and notifies the information indicating the determinationresult to the radio terminal.

The radio terminal (the UE 100) according to the first exemplaryoperation of the second embodiment is used in the mobiletelecommunication system which provides the plurality of communicationservices. The radio terminal includes the controller 130 whichdetermines whether the radio terminal satisfies the use condition of thepredetermined resource pool among the plurality of resource poolsprovided for each communication service. The plurality of resource poolsis provided in one radio frame and in one system bandwidth. The usecondition is a condition that the radio terminal should satisfy in orderto use the predetermined resource pool.

Third Embodiment

In the following, a third embodiment will be described mainly focusingon differences from the first and second embodiments.

In the third embodiment, the plurality of resource pools includes aprimary resource pool which is first used by the UE 100 among theplurality of resource pools. The UE 100 uses the primary resource poolfirst among the plurality of resource pools. Then, after starting theuse of the primary resource pool, the UE 100 uses a resource pool otherthan the primary resource pool. The eNB 200 may transmits, to the UE100, information causing the UE 100 to use a resource pool other thanthe primary resource pool after the UE 100 starts to use the primaryresource pool.

In the third embodiment, the eNB 200 may transmit, to the UE 100,information indicating the primary resource pool and/or informationindicating a priority of the plurality of resource pools. These piecesof information may be included in the resource map information accordingto the first embodiment. The eNB 200 transmits these pieces ofinformation using the broadcast signaling or the UE dedicated signaling.Alternatively, the priorities of the primary resource pool and/or theplurality of resource pools may be defined in advance, and the UE 100may store information indicating the primary resource pool and/orinformation indicating the priority of the plurality of resource poolsin advance.

The primary resource pool is a resource pool for a machine typecommunication (MTC) service for example. In the MTC, it is assumed thata large number of UEs 100 are contained. Therefore, it is consideredthat a technology which can contain a large number of UEs 100 isemployed. In addition, since a power saving technology is considered inthe MTC, the MTC is suitable to the UE 100 which has no data or less.Therefore, a resource pool for the MTC is set as the primary resourcepool, and other resource pools are used when a high data rate isrequired. With this configuration, the plurality of resource poolsand/or the power (battery) of the UE 100 can be efficiently used.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary operation of the thirdembodiment. In FIG. 11, there is described an example in which aresource pool commonly used in the control of the plurality of resourcepools (hereinafter, referred to as “common control resource”) isprovided.

In addition, the description will be given about an example in which theplurality of resource pools includes a resource pool for an mMTC(massive MTC) (hereinafter, referred to as “Resource 1”), and a resourcepool for an eMBB (hereinafter, referred to as “Resource 2”). The commoncontrol resource may be provided in a frequency band (different carrier)different from those of Resources 1 and 2. Alternatively, the commoncontrol resource may be provided in the same frequency band (samecarrier) as those of Resources 1 and 2. In this case, the common controlresource may be the same as Resource 1.

In addition, in FIG. 11, it is assumed that the common control resource,Resource 1, and Resource 2 are managed by the same eNB 200. However, thecommon control resource, Resource 1, and Resource 2 may be managedseparately by a plurality of eNBs 200.

Further, in FIG. 11, the third embodiment will be described as anexample in conjunction with the second embodiment. In addition, here,starting the use of the resource pool will be referred as “accessing theresource”. Therefore, the use condition of the resource pool will bereferred to as “access condition”. Further, in FIG. 11, the signalingdepicted with a broken line is an optional signaling.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, in Step S301, the eNB 200 transmits, to theUE 100, information indicating the primary resource pool and/orinformation (access order information) indicating the priority of theplurality of resource pools using the common control resource. Forexample, the eNB 200 transmits, to the UE 100, the access orderinformation indicating that Resource 1 is accessed first and thenResource 2 is accessed. In other words, Resource 1 corresponds to theprimary resource pool. Further, the eNB 200 may transmit informationindicating the carriers of Resources 1 and 2, for example, ARFCN(Absolute Radio-Frequency Channel Number).

In Step S302, the UE 100 monitors Resource 1 on the basis of the accessorder information. Specifically, the UE 100 determines whether theaccess condition of Resource 1 is satisfied. Here, the description willproceed on an assumption that the access condition of Resource 1 issatisfied (Step S303).

In Step S304, the UE 100 transmits a notification (access notification)to the eNB 200 which indicates that the access condition of Resource 1is satisfied using the common control resource.

In Steps S305 and S306, the eNB 200 checks whether the access toResource 1 is allowable in response to the access notification. In acase where the common control resource and Resource 1 are managed by thedifferent eNBs 200, the eNB 200 managing the common control resource andthe eNB 200 managing Resource 1 may perform negotiation. Here, thedescription will proceed on an assumption that the access to Resource 1is allowed.

In Step S307, the eNB 200 notifies the access allowance of Resource 1 tothe UE 100 using the common control resource. The UE 100 may notify ACKinformation with respect to the access allowance of Resource 1 to theeNB 200 using the common control resource (Step S308). The ACKinformation may be considered as a notification indicating that theaccess process (RACH, connection request, etc.) to Resource 1 starts.Therefore, the ACK information can be used as a trigger to start thereception process in Resource 1.

In Step S309, the UE 100 performs an access process on Resource 1. Theaccess process includes at least one of a synchronization process, aradio link process, and a security process. In other words, the accessprocess includes at least one of a process corresponding to RACHprocedure, a process corresponding to RRC Connection Establishment, aprocess of setting security of the upper layer, and a processcorresponding to RRC Connection Reconfiguration.

In Step S310, the eNB 200 allocates the resource in Resource 1. The eNB200 transmits the resource allocation information to the UE 100 usingResource 1.

In Step S311, the eNB 200 transmits downlink (DL) data to the UE 100using the resource allocated to the UE 100. In addition, in Step S312,the UE 100 transmits uplink (UL) data to the eNB 200 using the resourceallocated from the eNB 200. The order of Steps S311 and S312 may bereversed.

In Step S313, the UE 100 monitors Resource 2 on the basis of the accessorder information. Specifically, the UE 100 determines whether theaccess condition of Resource 2 is satisfied. Here, the description willproceed on an assumption that the access condition of Resource 2 issatisfied (Step S314).

In Step S315, the UE 100 transmits a notification (access notification)to the eNB 200 which indicates that the access condition of Resource 2is satisfied using Resource 1.

In Steps S316 and S317, the eNB 200 checks whether the access toResource 2 is allowable in response to the access notification. In acase where Resources 1 and 2 are managed by the different eNBs 200, theeNB 200 managing Resource 1 and the eNB 200 managing Resource 2 mayperform negotiation. Here, the description will proceed on an assumptionthat the access to Resource 2 is allowed.

In Step S318, the eNB 200 notifies the access allowance of Resource 2 tothe UE 100 using Resource 1. The UE 100 may notify the ACK informationwith respect to the access allowance of Resource 1 to the eNB 200 usingResource 1 (Step S319). The ACK information may be considered as anotification indicating that the access process to Resource 2 starts.Therefore, the ACK information may be used as a trigger to start thereception process in Resource 2.

In Step S320, the UE 100 performs the access process on Resource 2.

In Step S321, the eNB 200 allocates the resource in Resource 2. The eNB200 transmits the resource allocation information to the UE 100 usingResource 2.

In Step S322, the eNB 200 transmits the downlink (DL) data to the UE 100using the resource allocated to the UE 100. In addition, in Step S323,the UE 100 transmits the uplink (UL) data to the eNB 200 using theresource allocated from the eNB 200. The order of Steps S322 and S323may be reversed.

Thereafter, the UE 100 keeps on monitoring Resource 2, and may keep ondetermining whether the access condition of Resource 2 is satisfied. Ina case where the access condition of Resource 2 is not satisfied, the UE100 may notify the fact to the eNB 200. The eNB 200 may notify a changefrom Resource 2 to Resource 1 to the UE 100 in response to thenotification. Alternatively, in a case where the access condition ofResource 2 is not satisfied, the UE 100 may determine the change fromResource 2 to Resource 1, and may transmit the signal (and/or data)using Resource 1. In a case where the resource is changed based on thedetermination of the UE 100, the eNB 200 and the UE 100 may recognizethat the previous resource (Resource 2) is implicitly released.

The third embodiment may be summarized as follows.

The network apparatus (the eNB 200) according to the third embodiment isused in the mobile telecommunication system which provides the pluralityof communication services. The network apparatus includes the controllerwhich manages the plurality of resource pools provided for eachcommunication service. The plurality of resource pools is provided inone radio frame and in one system bandwidth. The plurality of resourcepools includes the primary resource pool which is first used by theradio terminal among the plurality of resource pools.

The radio terminal (the UE 100) according to the third embodiment isused in the mobile telecommunication system which provides the pluralityof communication services. The radio terminal includes the controllerwhich uses any of the plurality of resource pools provided for eachcommunication service. The plurality of resource pools is provided inone radio frame and in one system bandwidth. The controller uses theprimary resource pool first among the plurality of resource pools.

Fourth Embodiment

In the following, the fourth embodiment will be described mainlyfocusing on differences from the first to third embodiments.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating an operation according tothe fourth embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, in thefourth embodiment, each of the plurality of resource pools (theplurality of resources) includes a cell identifier. The cell identifieris, for example, a PCI (Physical Cell Identity). The eNB 200 and the UE100 handle each of the plurality of resource pools as one cell. The eNB200 preferably transmits the same type of signal as a signal which istransmitted by a normal cell in each resource pool.

In FIG. 12A, the plurality of resource pools is managed by the same eNB200. The UE 100 is connected to Resource 1 (Cell 1) and Resource 2 (Cell2). In this case, the communication may be controlled by a similarmethod to carrier aggregation (CA).

In the fourth embodiment, in a case where the UE 100 using the pluralityof resource pools at the same time performs handover, the eNB 200 andthe UE 100 perform a handover procedure using one resource pool amongthe plurality of resource pools. Further, while hand over is not limitedto a case where all of the plurality of resource pools are handed over,the UE 100 may hand over only some of the plurality of resource pools.

As illustrated in FIG. 12B, the plurality of resource pools may bemanaged by the plurality of eNBs 200. The UE 100 is connected toResource 1 (Cell 1) and Resource 2 (Cell 2). In this case, thecommunication may be controlled in a similar method to dual connectivity(DC).

The eNB 200 or the UE 100 may select a resource pool having a smallestlatency among the plurality of resource pools in use, as one resourcepool which is used in the handover procedure. Alternatively, oneresource pool used in the handover procedure may be a pre-definedresource pool (for example, the common control resource or the primaryresource described above).

In the handover procedure, the UE 100 may notify the identifier (cellidentifier) of each of the plurality of resource pools used by itself tothe eNB 200 using the selected one resource pool. The eNB 200 performsthe handover of each resource pool using the plurality of resource poolsas the plurality of cells.

Alternatively, the eNB 200 may manage the identifier (cell identifier)of each of the plurality of resource pools used by the UE 100 inassociation with a predetermined index (for example, a UE identifier).In this case, the UE 100 may notify the predetermined index to the eNB200 using the selected one resource pool in the handover procedure. TheeNB 200 considers the plurality of resource pools corresponding to thenotified predetermined index as the plurality of cells, and performs thehandover of each resource pool.

The fourth embodiment may be summarized as follows.

The network apparatus (the eNB 200) according to the fourth embodimentis used in the mobile telecommunication system which provides theplurality of communication services. The network apparatus includes thecontroller which manages the plurality of resource pools provided foreach communication service. The plurality of resource pools is providedin one radio frame and in one system bandwidth. Each of the plurality ofresource pools includes the cell identifier. The controller handles eachof the plurality of resource pools as one cell.

The radio terminal (the UE 100) according to the fourth embodiment isused in the mobile telecommunication system which provides the pluralityof communication services. The radio terminal includes the controllerwhich uses any of the plurality of resource pools provided for eachcommunication service. The plurality of resource pools is provided inone radio frame and in one system bandwidth. Each of the plurality ofresource pools includes the cell identifier. The controller handles eachof the plurality of resource pools as one cell.

Other Embodiments

The respective embodiments described above may be individuallyimplemented, or may be implemented by combining two or more embodiments.For example, some operations of one embodiment may be added to anotherembodiment, or some operations of one embodiment may be replaced withthose of other embodiments.

In addition, in the respective embodiments described above, at leastsome of the operations described as being performed by the eNB 200 maybe performed by a network apparatus other than the eNB 200.

In the respective embodiments described above, it has been assumed thatthe UE 100 supports the plurality of services. However, there may be aUE 100 which supports only one service.

In the respective embodiments described above, the radio terminal (theUE 100) may be a mobile phone terminal, an in-vehicle terminal, acard-type terminal, or other types of terminals.

(Note)

(Note A1)

A network apparatus which is used in a mobile telecommunication systemproviding a plurality of communication services, including:

a controller which manages a plurality of resource pools provided foreach communication service,

wherein the plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frameand in one system bandwidth, and

wherein the controller transmits resource map information indicating alayout pattern of the plurality of resource pools to a radio terminal.

(Note A2)

The network apparatus according to Note A1,

wherein the controller transmits the resource map information using aspecific resource pool, and

wherein a base TTI (Transmission Time Interval) is applied to thespecific resource pool.

(Note A3)

The network apparatus according to Note A1,

wherein the resource map information includes information indicatingwhether a resource in the resource pool is allocated by the networkapparatus or the radio terminal.

(Note B1)

A network apparatus which is used in a mobile telecommunication systemproviding a plurality of communication services, including:

a controller which manages a plurality of resource pools provided foreach communication service and a use condition of each of the pluralityof resource pools,

wherein the plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frameand in one system bandwidth, and

wherein the use condition is a condition to be satisfied by a radioterminal to use a corresponding resource pool.

(Note B2)

The network apparatus according to Note B1,

wherein the controller is configured to

transmit information indicating the use condition to the radio terminal,and

receive information from the radio terminal which indicates adetermination result of whether the use condition is satisfied.

(Note B3)

The network apparatus according to Note B1,

wherein the controller determines whether the radio terminal satisfiesthe use condition, and notifies information indicating a determinationresult to the radio terminal.

(Note B4)

The network apparatus according to Note B1,

wherein the use condition includes at least one of a threshold which iscompared to a radio parameter, a threshold which is compared to a randomnumber, a class or a category of the radio terminal, a range of anidentifier of the radio terminal, a type of an application which isperformed by the radio terminal, and a type of a protocol which isperformed by the radio terminal.

(Note C1)

A network apparatus which is used in a mobile telecommunication systemproviding a plurality of communication services, including:

a controller which manages a plurality of resource pools provided foreach communication service,

wherein the plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frameand in one system bandwidth, and

wherein the plurality of resource pools includes a primary resource poolwhich is first used by the radio terminal among the plurality ofresource pools.

(Note C2)

The network apparatus according to Note C1,

wherein the controller transmits information indicating the primaryresource pool and/or information indicating a priority of the pluralityof resource pools to the radio terminal.

(Note C3)

The network apparatus according to Note C1,

wherein the controller transmits information to the radio terminal whichcauses the radio terminal to use a resource pool other than the primaryresource pool, after the radio terminal starts to use the primaryresource pool.

(Note D1)

A radio terminal which is used in a mobile telecommunication systemproviding a plurality of communication services, including:

a controller which uses any of a plurality of resource pools providedfor each communication service,

wherein the plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frameand in one system bandwidth,

wherein each of the plurality of resource pools includes a cellidentifier, and

wherein the controller handles each of the plurality of resource poolsas one cell.

(Note D2)

The radio terminal according to Note D1,

wherein, in a case where the radio terminal using the plurality ofresource pools at the same time carries out handover, the controllerperforms a handover procedure using one resource pool among theplurality of resource pools.

(Note D3)

A network apparatus which is used in a mobile telecommunication systemproviding a plurality of communication services, including:

a controller which manages a plurality of resource pools provided foreach communication service,

wherein the plurality of resource pools is provided in one radio frameand in one system bandwidth,

wherein each of the plurality of resource pools includes a cellidentifier, and

wherein the controller handles each of the plurality of resource poolsas one cell.

(Note D4)

The network apparatus according to Note D3,

wherein, in a case where a radio terminal using the plurality ofresource pools at the same time carries out handover, the controllerperforms a handover procedure using one resource pool among theplurality of resource pools.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A user equipment comprising: a processorand a memory coupled to the processor, the processor configured to:receive from a base station, for each bandwidth part of a plurality ofbandwidth parts provided in a bandwidth of one carrier, informationindicating a frequency location of the bandwidth part and informationindicating a subcarrier spacing applied to the corresponding bandwidthpart; and use one of the plurality of bandwidth parts on the basis ofthe information received from the base station, wherein the plurality ofbandwidth parts includes a special bandwidth part which the userequipment should use initially, and the processor is further configuredto receive, from the base station, broadcast information includinginformation on the special bandwidth part.
 2. A base station comprising:a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the processorconfigured to: transmit to a user equipment, for each bandwidth part ofa plurality of bandwidth parts provided in a bandwidth of one carrier,information indicating a frequency location of the bandwidth part andinformation indicating a subcarrier spacing applied to the correspondingbandwidth part, wherein the plurality of bandwidth parts includes aspecial bandwidth part which the user equipment should use initially;and transmit to the user equipment, broadcast information includinginformation on the special bandwidth part.
 3. A method used in a userequipment, the method comprising: receiving from a base station, foreach bandwidth part of a plurality of bandwidth parts provided in abandwidth of one carrier, information indicating a frequency location ofthe bandwidth part and information indicating a subcarrier spacingapplied to the corresponding bandwidth part; using one of the pluralityof bandwidth parts on the basis of the information received from thebase station, wherein the plurality of bandwidth parts includes aspecial bandwidth part which the user equipment should use initially;and receiving from the base station, broadcast information includinginformation on the special bandwidth part.